Sds011 lifespan and enabling power save mode

I’ve had low values for the sds011 sensor for a while now. I just discovered it only lasts 8k hours due to laser degradation. This means that you need set it up to measure values at long enough intervals that power saving can activate, otherwise the sensor will only be accurate for about a year.
According to AI, if I set it to measure every 5 minutes, it is possible that power saving can be activated.

Question: where is the option to turn off sds011 between readings?

Comment: this leads me to the point that the map showing all these data stations may be totally inaccurate due to people not realising that their sds011 sensor needs to be replaced! Many were built by schools and may not have been examined for years.

But there is such power out in the code…
Interval is 145 sec.

What let you think that the sensor is continously measuring ?

his leads me to the point that the map showing all these data stations may be totally inaccurate due to people not realising that their sds011 sensor needs to be replaced! Many were built by schools and may not have been examined for years.

Yes, it is an issue.

I read that if you set the interval to 30 seconds that it never shuts off because it is not enough time to “warm up” or something like that

Interval was always and is 145 s.

Plus, horizontal orientation (the way the official guide is showing it) seems to prolong health. At least that is if you consider fan noise as a symptom of degradation.

Mine was set to 145 seconds, always, and it seems to have died within 4 years of 24/7 use.
Is a replacement part a cheap option? Any info on that?

4 years is quite good. It is lowcost electronic :slight_smile:
You can change the SDS011 easily.

Yes, I found them on ali for €17. Wonder if there are differences between any of them. Some charge more than double for the exact same SDS011 sensor-board.

More important questions regarding this:

How does one know the sensor needs replacing? Other than it not sending out any data. I ask this because as it turned out, power-cycling (not just doing ‘restart’ via the firmware) made the sensor alive again! It started by sending out ridiculous values at first, then later it turned back to normal. Is this a sign of EOL for the sensor? It has not been updating firmware, and debug log does (did) not show anything of value about this sensor..

I’d be worried the 17€ sensor was “recycled “

It’s surprising that technology hasn’t advanced more than this. I would expect sensor on a chip by now

A few years ago Insplorion AB was developing something but it seems they gave up.